Boston Mamas: Kids in the Kitchen

Today, Michelle Stern of What’s Cooking offers a guide for involving kids in the kitchen:

“Since I teach cooking classes for children, people ask me all the time about what their kids can really do in the kitchen. They find it hard to believe that their toddler can actually help, without causing complete chaos. The following guide highlights some of the age-appropriate cooking skills that children typically can handle. Of course, use your discretion depending on how much experience your child has had experimenting in the kitchen.

Age-Appropriate Cooking Skills

2-3 year olds can:

Rinse vegetables or fruits

Tear large pieces of lettuce

Stir

Pour with assistance

Select which ingredients they want to taste or use

Recognize changes to ingredients during the cooking process

Sort ingredients

Help identify ingredients in the grocery store

Group utensils when setting the table.

4-6 year olds can:

Do tasks listed previously, and…

Pour

Mix

Count and do simple measurements

Cut with a plastic or butter knife

Crack eggs

Start to follow recipe cards and symbols

Create their own recipes, and draw them on cards

Identify images or diagrams of ingredients on your grocery list

Set the table.

7-12 year olds can:

Do tasks listed previously, and…

Write your shopping list and read it to you at the store.

Help select which recipes the family will share at mealtime.

Read and follow recipes

Work with a heat source (supervised)

Cut with a sharper knife (with instruction)

Create their own recipes and write the steps

Help to wash dishes

When you prepare meals for your family, involve your kids in the kitchen. Kids will enjoy the quality time they spend with you, and you will get a personal assistant!"

For more recipes and methods to involve kids in the kitchen, check out What’s Cooking Weekly.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Kids in the Kitchen

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